Political pressure can be as simple as a phone call to a prison chaplain, warden or other official from someone on the outside. This is often critically important when a prisoner is seeking medical care.
When a guard is making his rounds, and a prisoner informs him that he needs something, a common response is“ talk to the sergeant when he makes his rounds” or“ Talk to the unit manager”. That is not just routine finger pointing, it’ s a denial of something the prisoner may be admittedly entitled to. He cannot talk to the sergeant as directed because sergeants don’ t make rounds. In most facilities that’ s the guard’ s job. The prisoner can’ t talk to the unit manager because the prisoner is locked up in his cell. The unit manager’ s office is often in a distant, unknown and otherwise inaccessible location.
You, on the other hand, can talk to the unit manager or the warden if you choose to do so. You can go higher, if no one at your loved one’ s prison says something you want to hear. Not only can you talk; you can write. You can write to newspapers, human rights organizations, innocence projects, legislators, and others.
You have easier access to many more addresses than a prisoner. There is much you can do, and YOU DON’ T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF ENGLISH MAJORS! If you are not a good writer, you know someone who is. If you are not a good public speaker, you know someone who is. Don’ t be afraid to ask friends, relatives and neighbors for help. Guards may try to isolate a prisoner, but they can’ t isolate you. You can organize a support group that will be able to do things a prisoner cannot. I ask:
Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will standup for one against the worker of iniquity? Psalm 94:16
Robert A. Bartlett, Sr. # 0693774 Tabor Correctional Institution P. O. Box 730 Tabor City, NC 28463-0730
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